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8 mobile technologies to follow

Research firm Gartner sees an important role for the following 8 mobile technologies in the further development of the mobile market.

1. Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth 3.0 will be introduced this year but won’t be integrated into devices until 2010. Advantages include the ‘ultra-low-power mode’, allowing sensors to use this technology.

2. Mobile user interface
Gartner expects manufacturers to differentiate from each other by building in user friendly interfaces. But different interfaces won’t facilitate the development of mobile applications.

3. Location sensitive
Mobile applications can become more useful when they can ‘sense’ the location of the user.

4. 802.11n
This new wifi protocol will play an important role, delivering faster data transfer and better coverage. New access points, new interfaces and new backbones will be necessary but the dream of the ‘all wireless office’ comes closer.

5. Display technology
New types of displays will arrive, both passive (e-Books) and active.

6. Mobile web & widgets
The mobile web and its widgets are a cheap way to allow certain applications on mobiledevices.

7. Mobile broadband networks
Mobile broadband will gain (even more) importance. HSPA can be an important add-on or even replacement of wifi hotspots.

8. Near field communication (NFC)
NFC allows mobile devices to communicate with other devices over a distance of a few centimeters. This can allow services such as mobile payment, mobile vouchers and the exchange of pictures.